i think about how being a trans woman means subjecting yourself to endless suffering. stares in public, confrontations with strangers, harassment online. at best it's a cavalcade of freaks in the comments of all your posts trying to piss you off, at worst it's doxxing and long-term "lolcowing" on sites like kiwifarms.
i think about how in spite of this most trans women try to be exceptionally kind and compassionate. many of them do this so as not to turn away allies, of course. people are predisposed to abandon or find reason to hate us, so we must always be on our best behavior, kinder than anyone could be expected to be, damn near saintly. but still, they endure.
most trans women i know have been cast out from somewhere. lost social groups, in person or online, usually both. most trans women i know have been abused, starting with their parents and continuing into friends, partners, and otherwise. most trans women i know have seen the worst parts of humanity on full display all the time.
but every trans woman i know is also kind. trying their hardest every day, wanting so badly to be decent, to be good, to be kind. in the face of such endless and unceasing hardship i am shocked to see, always, that my sisters keep a brave face and keep smiling, keep doing good, keep trying to be their best selves. and i am astonished. because i think there really is something magical abt that.